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Your milk supply at the beginning

By Johanna Clark, Franjos Kitchen

Johanna Clark from Franjos Kitchen talks through what you could expect in your milk supply at the beginning of your breastfeeding journey.

We all know that where possible breast milk is best for our babies. Unfortunately for some mum’s breastfeeding is simply not possible. This can be an emotionally tough time for many parents hard to accept but we all do have to realize that we all live in a very lucky country and have great milk alternatives and we all know our babies will still thrive on these. However, if there any chance we can help you with a tip or two to perhaps help your situation to either begin or prolong breastfeeding your child then brilliant!

Let’s work towards the majority of us exclusively breastfeeding to 5 months!?

Common barriers to breastfeeding:

Poor information, communication or care during the pre-natal period.

Note: Try to think about post-birth in your prenatal period (I wish I did!) and ask your midwife plenty of questions on what happens after. I.e what to expect with breastfeeding, sleeping and how you will feel

Perceived low milk supply

If your baby is content and putting on weight, great!

Delayed first feed

As soon as you can get your baby to latch on

Perception of partner’s attitude

Educate your partner during the prenatal period

Popular media and celebrity influences

Those first 24 hours

If possible, ensure you have skin to skin (i.e. no washing, wiping or fully wrapping your baby) contact for at least 1 hour post-birth. Try for longer if possible – a couple of hours would be brilliant

Try and feed within 30 minutes of birth as this triggers all the hormones and also connects you with baby straight away. You are a very important person to this little being!

Stay with your child in the same place as birth for at least the first 24 hours

No pacifier or supplementary feeds offered – this may confuse your little one. It takes time to teach your baby to latch on and how to feed. This is the only thing she needs to learn right now

What might be inhibit the milk ejection reflex and supply

Anxiety

Pain

Fear

Embarrassment

Damage to nerve from breast surgery

Improper latch on

More than 4 hourly gaps between feeds

Be careful if your baby sleeps through the night. That is great for them but unfortunate for you as you still need to get up every 3-4 hours and express your milk. This is imperative to keep your milk supply up. If you don’t, you will most likely notice your supply drop very very quickly